Improvement in sulky-plows



lr. GHAMBBRLIN. Sulky-Plow'.

N0.'2o1,227 Patented March 12, 187s.

THOMAS-B. GHAMBERLIN, or-aonnninnn, iowa..

Specicationlforming.part-of -Iletters PatentNo. 201,227, dated March 12,` 1378i application tiled To all whom it mag/concern: .Be it'known that I, THOMAS B. CHAMBER- LIN, of Glarinda, in the county of Page. andl State of Iowa,.have invented `certain new and useful Improvements in Sulky-Plows; and I do hereby declare that the vfollowing is.a1full clear, and exact* description of; my invention, which will :enable` others skilled in .theart to, which it appertains to makeand use thesame,` reference being hadto the. accompanying drawf 1 ings,and tofthefletters ofreference marked thereon, -which form apart ofz this:speciiication.`

My invention relates to that classof agri-,- cultural implements known as sulky-plows plows which are attached to anaxle, or to a frame connected with an axle which is supported on wheels andl provided with a lseat for the driver.

My invention is designed to sustain the plow in proper vertical workin g position without interfering with any lateral movement or oscillation, which may be necessary to its operation in both level and broken lands.

I accomplish the desired result by means of a device constructed somewhat on the principle of a turn-table, composed of two parts or bearing-plates centrally pivoted together. The plow-beam is secured to the upper bearing-plate, and the lower plate to the sulkyframe or axle.

The device is so constructed that it can be readily attached to any sulky axle or frame. It also has special features of construction, so that the lateral motion of the plow may be limited within certain bounds,I and any or all lateral movements may be prevented, when desired, the plow being under all circumstances supported in proper vertical workin g position.

The advantage of giving the plow this limited lateral movement is that it obviates all side draft in rough or broken land. It also obviates all that rigidity that is characteristic of all plows which are controlled by the frame and tongue exclusively. While this limited movement leaves the plow and carriage a perfectly free movement, which is not desirable in broken or rough land, it is desirable in level land, and in turning square corners without raising the plow from the ground. With my device a perfectly free movement `or a limited movement can be 'given to the plow, as del,y

sired,and the .plowmay also-, be ymade perfectlylrigidor free from any movement laterally, asis sometimes necessary and desirable when-finishing up aland, Snc.

In the accompany ingdrawings, Figure l is`- a planview of thedevice, shown, attached to a sulky and-plow. -Fig. 2 is anenlarged plan view of thcfdevice and Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view of the same.4 Fig. .4 is acrosssectional viewothe deyice,showing-the convex `surface of the plates, ,which .permits of a rocking ymotion ofthe sulky. Referringto the.1 parts byl letters, A represents the snlky-frame or. axle, and AB B the wheels.. lC is the plow-beam 5 D, the plow.

. E represents the lower bearing-plate of the device, It is provided. with projections or lugs c e, which are made hollow or perforated, so that by passing a rod, e', through them, and seeming its ends to the axle or frame A, the device may be readily attached thereto.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular method or' attaching the device to the sulky, as it is obvious that it may be attached and secured in any convenient manner.

F is the upper bearing-plate of the device,

,to which the plow-,beam D is firmly secured by under side of the plate F is beveled or made' convex in its cross-section, as clearly shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, and,if desired, the upper side of the plate E may be similarly formed, or the latter may be made convex and the plate F straight-in either case the e'ect being to permit of a rocking motion laterally between the sulky and the plow, thereby allowing the wheels of the sulky to pass over small obstructions or rough ground without disturbing vthe position of the plow, which is in a measure thereby made independent of the carriage and wheels.

f represents projections or lugs on the upper side of the plate F, between which the plowbeam is placed, so that the lbeam cannot move laterally independent of the bearing-plate. These bearing plates E and F are pivoted together by means of a bolt, I, which is passed centrally through them. This bolt has a broad or anged head countersunk within the upper plate F, andthe hole through said plate is enlarged, so as to receive a projecting sleeve, i, formed on the upper side of the lower plate E. Besides having a rocking motion, the upper plate is free toturn upon the lower one.

J is an arc-shaped slot formed through the upper beam-plate F; and j is a screw-bolt which passes through the slot J into the lower plate E.

It will be seen that when this screw j is thus inserted, the lateral movement of the plow-beam is limited by the screw coming in contact with the ends of the slot J but if it is desirable to allow of a perfectly free lateral motion of the beam, all that is necessary is to remove this screw j.

A method of locking the plates so as to prevent any lateral motion of the plow may be resorted to; and it consists in simply passing a pin or bolt through a hole in the lower plate E, as indicated at K in the drawings.

The device may be used in connection with all descriptions of wheel-plows used for breaking up land, it beingv adapted for gang-plows, as well as single sulky-plows.

With a device oi this construction applied to sulky-plows, Snc., the following advantageous results are obtained: First, I can make the connection between the plow-beam and the carriageframe pefectly rigid when it is desired to have the plow work in that way; second, a perfectly free lateral movement can be given to the plow when such is desirable;

third, lateral motion'to a limited extent, only, may be given'to the plow, as hereinbefore set forth; and, lastly, a rock or oscillating motion is established -between the plow and the sulky, so that the wheels of the latter may rise and fall in passing over uneven ground without aecting the position of the plow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An attachment to sulky-plows for sustaining the plow in proper working position, consisting of two bearing-plates pivoted together, one being secured to the axle or frame, and the other to the plow-beam, substantially as set forth, said plates having the devices, substantially as described, to lock the plow in position or allow its limited or unlimited lateral oscillation.

' 2. An attachment to wheel-plows consisting of `two bearing-plates pivoted together, substantially as described, one or both plates being beveled'or made convex, so that the carria'ge-frame may have a rocking motion, and may oscillate without affecting the position of the plow, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS B. GHAMBERLIN.

Witnesses:

W. M. ALEXANDER, J AMES L. BROWN. 

